'He has done brilliantly well': Portsmouth boss lauds hugely promising rise of teenage first-team newcomer
The 17-year-old Academy player was involved in his second Pompey squad of the season
While John Mousinho sprang a number of starting surprises, there was another eye-catching inclusion among Pompey’s substitutes at The Valley.
And the Blues head coach is adamant Ashton Sizer thoroughly deserves his latest involvement in the match-day 20.
The 17-year-old initially came to the attention of supporters in last month’s trip to Hull, with the defender named in his maiden first-team squad, albeit as an unused substitute.
The well-regarded first-year scholar has progressed through Pompey’s youth ranks to become a regular at centre-half for the Academy this season and, on occasions, has been asked to train with Mousinho’s men.
With Josh Knight (back) and Regan Poole (ankle) missing against Charlton, while Conor Shaughnessy and Connor Ogilvie remain on the sidelines, Sizer found himself acting as defensive cover on the bench.
And Mousinho has been impressed with the promising youngster’s ongoing progress.
Portsmouth boss: He has done brilliantly well
He told The News: ‘Ash has come and done brilliantly well with us. If we needed to fill the bench with other players, we would have done it, but we wanted him to be here.
‘If he was needed to feature in the Charlton game, we would have been happy to stick him on from the bench, but obviously that wasn’t the case with the match abandoned.
‘Ash is a really good size for a 17-year-old and still a first-year pro. He played last season extensively for the Academy (under-18s) as an under-16.
‘He has come through and done brilliantly well, training with us quite a few times. He’s also been on our bench twice now and, with the issues we’ve had at centre-half, it was great to get him involved on Saturday.
‘Ash is a really dominant centre-half, very, very good on the ball as well, while has played a bit as a right-back when coming through, particularly when he first started playing for the Academy.
‘But he’s a dominant ball-playing centre-half who isn’t afraid to go and put his head in where it hurts.’
Saturday’s Charlton match was abandoned
Once fans had left the stadium, Pompey were granted permission to stage an impromptu training session on the pitch at The Valley, with Sizer included.
It remains to be seen whether the teenager remains with the squad for Tuesday night’s visit to Swansea (7.45pm), with Knight the most likely of the missing defenders to be in the frame for a return.
‘We’re pleased with his progress’
In the meantime, Mousinho has no qualms over continuing Sizer’s involvement in his first-team squad.
He added: ‘Certainly Ash is developing in terms of the leadership role as well.
‘He’s probably a bit quieter and we are yet to see him tested at this level, in terms of how dominant he is, but with everything we have seen so far, we’re pleased with his progress.’
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